Odisha empowers havildars, constables to investigate cases

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has empowered graduate constables and Criminal Intelligence havildars to investigate cases falling under specific sections of IPC.

As per a notification of the State Home Department, Officer in charge of a police station may depute one of his subordinate officers of the rank of ASI to conduct investigation. Besides, graduate constables and Criminal Intelligence havildars would now take up investigation of the offences falling under the following Sections of IPC: 277, 279, 280, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 291, 292, 292-A, 294, 304-A, 318, 324, 336, 337, 338, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 356, 357, 379 (property up to Rs 30,000) 447, 448 and 453.

During course of investigation, if any additional offence is prima facie established for which punishment is more than three years, the IIC/OIC shall either take over the investigation or transfer investigation to any other officer empowered to investigate such offenses, the notification said.

In addition, offences under the Odisha Prevention of Gambling Act and Odisha Firework and Loudspeakers (Regulation) Act having punishment up to three years may be investigated by graduate constables and Criminal Intelligence havildars, the notification added.

“The aim of the move is to ease the pressure on the investigators in the state, who are under-staffed,” said DGP RP Sharma.